It was first recorded by Stephen Stills on a 1968 demo album released in 2007: Just Roll Tape.
[1][2] The song was first released by Atlantic Records on Crosby, Stills, and Nash's eponymous debut album on May 29, 1969.
[3] In June 1969, they released it as the B-side of their debut single "Marrakesh Express".
[4][2] The song was written for Judy Collins[5] and is about Stephen Stills' struggles after their break-up.
It uses both alliteration and wordplay in its lyrics: "Helplessly Hoping, Her Harlequin Hovers...", "Gasping at Glimpses, of Gentle..."; "Wordlessly Watching he Waits by the Window and Wonders...", "Heartlessly Helping, Himself to Her bad dreams He worries... Did He Hear...", "Stand by the Stairway, you'll See Something Certain", "Love isn't Lying, it's Loose in a Lady who Lingers... Saying she is Lost".